Conversations to inspire expansion and growth

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Welcome to the We Are Human Leaders podcast. We have big, candid and impactful conversations about human-centered leadership at work and beyond. We focus on what’s novel: new takes on leadership, new research and insights, new ways of looking at things.

We share stories, data, inspiration and insight in conversations designed to spark ‘aha’ moments – and empower you and other Human Leaders to create change, lead authentically and build workplaces where people thrive.

Available everywhere you listen to podcasts. Scroll down for our latest episodes.

Amy Edmondson •

Daniel Goleman •

Dr Kirstin Ferguson •

Urs Koenig •

Tracey Spicer •

Dr Huggy Rao •

Meisha-Ann Martin •

Martin Gutmann •

Iman Obou •

Amy Edmondson • Daniel Goleman • Dr Kirstin Ferguson • Urs Koenig • Tracey Spicer • Dr Huggy Rao • Meisha-Ann Martin • Martin Gutmann • Iman Obou •

Our incredible guests so far include

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Smiling elderly man with gray hair and beard, wearing a gray blazer over a red sweater and blue collared shirt, outdoors with green blurred background.

Dr Michele Lamont •

Craig Foster •

Lily Zheng •

Jeremy Utley •

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang •

Kim Scott •

Dr John Chan •

Claude Silver •

Ron Carruci •

Ashton Applewhite •

Dr David Weiss •

Dr Jonathan Fisher •

Morra Aarons-Mele •

Dr Michele Lamont • Craig Foster • Lily Zheng • Jeremy Utley • Alex Soojung-Kim Pang • Kim Scott • Dr John Chan • Claude Silver • Ron Carruci • Ashton Applewhite • Dr David Weiss • Dr Jonathan Fisher • Morra Aarons-Mele •

A middle-aged man in a dark suit and light purple shirt sitting inside an office with large windows in the background.
A young woman with long dark hair, glasses, and light skin, wearing a black zip-up top, posing against a dark background.

George Kohlriesser •

Ellen Langer •

Garry Ridge •

Louise Evans •

Charlie Sull •

Dr Delia McCabe •

Megumi Miki •

Mandar Apte •

Hema Vyas •

George Kohlriesser • Ellen Langer • Garry Ridge • Louise Evans • Charlie Sull • Dr Delia McCabe • Megumi Miki • Mandar Apte • Hema Vyas •

Treat Your People Like Your Customers with Stephan Meier
Sally Clarke Sally Clarke

Treat Your People Like Your Customers with Stephan Meier

To drive incredible, transformational business outcomes, you need to stop focusing on the customer, and start focusing on your employees. Learn why – and how.

In this insight-packed conversation, Stephan Meier discusses the importance of a human-centric approach to the future of work, emphasizing that technology should augment human capabilities rather than replace them. He outlines the benefits of an employee-first workplace, including increased productivity, innovation, and employee retention. Stephan also highlights the shift in perspective where employees are seen as customers, advocating for organizations to apply customer-centric strategies to enhance employee experiences. Real-world examples, such as H.E.B. and Costco, illustrate the success of employee-centric practices. The discussion touches on the concept of quiet quitting and the need for leaders to actively listen to their employees to drive engagement. Plus, Stephan shares strategies for humanizing work and motivating employees through personalized experiences and continuous learning.

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Romance, Cheating and BFFs: Relationships at Work with Rachel Voysey
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

Romance, Cheating and BFFs: Relationships at Work with Rachel Voysey

Workplace relationships are a natural part of being human. Neither good or bad, they’re inevitable. So we asked a Relationship Psychologist to give us advice on how to navigate them.

In this conversation, relationship psychologist Rachel Voysey discusses the complexities of romantic relationships and friendships in the workplace. The discussion covers the inevitability of workplace relationships, the challenges of infidelity, and the importance of communication and empathy in navigating these dynamics.

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AI And The Future Of Work with Atlassian Futurist Dom Price
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

AI And The Future Of Work with Atlassian Futurist Dom Price

How we work today, isn’t how we’ll work tomorrow. Here’s what a world-leading Work Futurist told us about AI and the future of work.

In this conversation, We Are Human Leaders hosts Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke discuss the profound changes in work culture brought about by the pandemic, the resurgence of old management practices, and the need for flexibility and trust in the future of work with Atlassian's Work Futurist Dom Price.

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Allied: How To Lead People Who Are Different From You with Stephanie Chung
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

Allied: How To Lead People Who Are Different From You with Stephanie Chung

More often than not, the people we lead aren’t like us. Whether by gender, race, culture, or generation, the workplace is a melting pot of difference and leading people who aren’t like you is critical to success. 

So how do we do it? Enter Ally Leadership. A step away from performative and outdated leadership, and a stem into truly understanding, and getting the most from the brilliant human you lead.

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6 Must-Have Leadership Skills for Uncertain Times with Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

6 Must-Have Leadership Skills for Uncertain Times with Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke

Leaders face unpreceded rates if change, volatility and uncertainty right now. Here’s how to meet these challenges and succeed.

In this episode, Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke discuss the pressing challenges leaders face in today's volatile environment, focusing on technological disruption, the need for adaptive learning, emotional intelligence, and the importance of empathy and purpose-driven leadership in attracting and retaining talent.

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Paradox Thinking: The Ultimate Leadership Hack in Times of Uncertainty with Wendy Smith
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

Paradox Thinking: The Ultimate Leadership Hack in Times of Uncertainty with Wendy Smith

Paradox Thinking is critical for success. Tensions and dilemmas—far from being obstacles—serve as catalysts for innovation and growth when leaders learn to lean into the discomfort they case.

Learn actionable techniques to reframe “either/or” dilemmas, cultivate a paradox mindset, and leverage the power of the pause and radical acceptance to navigate uncertainty with creativity and resilience. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges the way you think, decide, and lead.

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Feeling Invisible? The Game Changing Impact of Mattering at Work with Zach Mercurio
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

Feeling Invisible? The Game Changing Impact of Mattering at Work with Zach Mercurio

Mattering is much more than a means to create productivity and engagement at work.

It’s a way of making sure everyone knows that they are innately needed, unique and what they do matters to others.

Mattering is a fundamental human needs for all of us, and for that reason alone should be motivation to prioritise it.

In this We Are Human Leaders podcast episode Author and Researcher Zach Mercurio shares the important research from his new book ‘The Power of Mattering’, including practical advice for leaders.

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How Burnout Wrecks Your Productivity: And How To Fix It with Dr John Chan
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

How Burnout Wrecks Your Productivity: And How To Fix It with Dr John Chan

Do you  know what it feels like to collaborate with someone that you didn’t have anything in common with, who seemed the opposite of your personality, who didn’t get your jokes, and quite frankly— probably made your eye twitch on a regular basis? Well our guests today understand this challenge deeply when they came together to collaborate at Walt Disney. They respected each other—but they didn’t want to work together. Only the stakes were high, and they needed to collaborate whether or not they liked or trusted each other. From this experience and surprising success, the Authentic Collaboration model was born. 

In this episode we’re speaking with Edward van Luinen and Tricia Cerrone - two former Walt Disney Imagineering leaders on Authentic Collaboration.

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Solving the Loneliness Crisis with Dr Michelle Lim
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

Solving the Loneliness Crisis with Dr Michelle Lim

We’re lonelier than ever, fact.

So what's causing it and can we do about it? And what role does the workplace play in ending loneliness?

We asked Dr Michelle Lim, one of the world’s leading experts in loneliness to help us understand the issue.

What is it, why is it on the rise, and can work – our careers, our colleagues, our leadership – be a force for good in reducing loneliness? Find out in this episode on Solving the Loneliness Crisis with Dr Michelle Lim.

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Sleep Better, Live and Lead Better with Dr Els van der Helm
Alexis Zahner Alexis Zahner

Sleep Better, Live and Lead Better with Dr Els van der Helm

Sleep is a universal experience for humans. It’s also universally debated: how much sleep should we really be getting?

Why is healthy sleep essential to great leadership and a great life? And, what can we do to improve our sleep?

In this episode, we speak with renowned sleep neuroscientist and expert in sleep leadership Dr. Els van der Helm. Els has spent over two decades studying the powerful link between sleep and high performance.

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Got a guest or idea for us to cover?

We’re always on the hunt for amazing guests who bring relevant, timely and human-centric conversations to the fore. Our listeners are intelligent, highly engaged Leaders who are motivated, curious learners. If you are or have someone in mind, tell us!

Let us know

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Reach out to us

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Give us feedback

Continuously improving what we do is important to us, and your feedback is foundational doing so. Please share your feedback and suggestions to let us know what you’re loving and would like to hear in the future. We appreciate you.

Touch base with us

  • "Heartfelt impact"

    Thank you Alexis and Sally for this inspiring, informative and actionable episode. You truly teach that success doesn’t have to mean disconnect or sacrifice (long-term). Thank you!

    • Kaitlin

  • "Putting humanity back into leadership"

    Alexis and Sally continue to bring forward the conversations that so many of us are having - why aren’t leaders showing more humanity.

    Their work is about the change that we are all hoping to see. The pandemic was the catalyst and Alexis & Sally are the change makers.

    • Maxwell

  • "Inspiring & exciting"

    Alexis & Sally are such interesting and inspiring speakers on the podcast! Can't wait to listen to the next episode.

    • Katrien